Club Homepage Forums Classified Ads Buy & Sell - Everything But Airplanes Looking at ELSA

I have been considering going to an ELSA and have been doing a lot of research into what was available. I zeroed in on the Zenith 750 and after seeing one in Sebring FL and talking to the reps, I’m 95% sure the Zenith is the one for me. I had the garage rebuilt, after the tornado, large enough, 25 x 32, to build the major components and I can assemble the plane in the hangar I lease at the airport. So, here is what I’m thinking. I’ll go to Mexico MO and attend their “rudder build class” this summer and then have the plane kit delivered late fall or early winter after I finish the inside of the new garage (it will be insulated and have heat and cooling). Since I’ve recently overhauled the engine in Silverlining (it has 1990 TT) I plan on using that engine and any other items needed and then parting out the rest of the airframe (also with 1990 TT). When I get to that part of assembly I’ll fly Silverlining to NC where my son will handle parting her out. We will bring the engine and other pieces parts back to MS for the final assembly. The 750 airframe and finishing kit cost about 20K. An O200 engine mount and cowling is 1.5K. A ground adjustable Sennsenich prop is about 3K. Avionics will be minimal so I’m guestimating 5K (I will use my existing transponder and altitude encoder, EI engine analyzer, etc). Since I’ll be daylight VFR, I hope to keep it as light as possible and keep the cost down with a total target of $35K not including engine cost. I should be able to re-coup some of the cost by selling whatever we can from Silverlining. I’m still number crunching but this looks like a viable option to keep flying for years to come.

There is a real advantage to registering it as an homebuilt rather than special light sport. A S-LSA (special light sport aircraft) must be maintained, repaired and modified per the manufacturer's instructions.

A homebuilt does not require the manufacturer's blessing to maintain, repair, and modify. As the builder of a homebuilt that happens to meet the LSA requirements, you'll have the right to be its mechanic and do the annual condition inspection.

The 750 is an amazing machine.

Yes, the ABE airplane has many advantages and fits what I want for an airplane. When I go up for the rudder build class I'll get a demo ride. I'm looking forward to that experience. I've tossed around a lot of ideas about this process and know it's a shame to part out a perfectly good aircraft, but in today's market, I feel it is the most ecomonical way for me to go.

Ken - any updates on your Zenith endeavour?

True, but i believe the ELSA and SLSA both offer higher resale value. If a buyer buys a ELSA he/she can do their own annunal inspection on the aircraft as long as he/she has took the 16 hr inspection course. Amateur build only the builder or a A&P can do the annunal inspection. A couple friends of mine that are A&P seem a little hesitant to do condition inspections on homebuilt aircrafts. Im not sure if they think its a higher liability or what the deal is.

I think the STOL 750 looks like a fantastic performer! A guy I know is building one and putting a Honda Fit engine into it. I guess its called a Viking conversion. Cant wait to go for a ride when its done!